Sunday, September 25, 2005

HILLARY COMES OUT AGAINST FREEDOM CENTER By DEBORAH ORIN *EXCLUSIVE*

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday dealt a crushingblow to the International Freedom Center planned for Ground Zero,saying she wants the project canned for failing to listen to the 9/11families. "I cannot support the IFC," Clinton declared last night in astrongly worded statement in response to an inquiry from The Post. Hertough comments are Clinton's first significant remarks about thecontroversy raging at Ground Zero over the Freedom Center, which 9/11families and other critics fear will become a center ofanti-Americanism. "While I want to ensure that development andrebuilding in lower Manhattan move forward expeditiously, I amtroubled by the serious concerns family members and first respondershave expressed to me," Clinton said. "The LMDC [Lower ManhattanDevelopment Corp.] has authority over the site and I do not believewe can move forward until it heeds and addresses their concerns." Thefamily members of victims, as well as unions representing the city'scops and firefighters, want nothing less than the Freedom Centerbeing booted from Ground Zero. Given her influence, Clinton's hardline could spell doom for the Freedom Center's hopes of remaining atthe World Trade Center site. Clinton spoke out the day after the IFCreleased a plan intended to save its spot at the site, but it was metwith immediate opposition from 9/11 families. Clinton won't supportany plan unless the families and first responders back it, said herspokesman, Philippe Reines. Many relatives of 9/11 victims denouncedthe Freedom Center plan as an insult to the 2,749 people who diedatthe Twin Towers because it would paint them as a little more than afootnote to the world's march toward freedom. The families, cops andfirefighters say the IFC's plan to use hallowed land at Ground Zeroto highlight poverty as a barrier to freedom diminishes the tragedyof 9/11. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also voiced concern yesterdayand called for a compromise — although he didn't state flat-outopposition to the Freedom Center. "There's got to be a way to meetthe families' sincere and real needs and build a center that honorsthe freedom that the victims died for. We hope that the LMDC willfind some common ground quickly," Schumer said. Gov. Pataki — whowields strong influence over the LMDC, which will soon decide theFreedom Center's fate — is traveling abroad and has yet to take astand on the Freedom Center's latest proposal. Pataki has said thathewon't support any plan that offers a forum for anti-Americanism.Clinton's opposition means that the anti-IFC push is now a bipartisancause. Three New York Republicans — Reps. John Sweeney (Saratoga),Peter King (L.I.) and Vito Fossella (S.I.) — are already challengingit as a "blame America first" project. Yesterday, the trio ofRepublicans formally requested a congressional oversight hearing as astep toward blocking the IFC from getting any of the $2.7 billion infederal funds allocated for Ground Zero. "The whole thing washijacked. If you asked people on the street what they wanted atGround Zero, this would be the last thing that they wanted," Sweeneysaid.